Controlled Self-Assembly of Metal-Organic Frameworks on Metal Nanoparticles for Efficient Synthesis of Hybrid Nanostructures

We report a novel approach for synthesizing inorganic nanoparticle/metal organic frameworks (MOFs) heterostructured nanocomposites by self assembly of MOFs on nanoparticles. This approach involves the synthesis of Au nanopinticles and preferential growth of [Cu-3(btc)(2)](n) frameworks consisting of Cu2+ ions and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (btc) on nanoparticles. Aggregates consisting of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)-stabilized Au nanopartides linked by Cu2+ ions were necessary for preferential self-assembly of [Cu-3(btc)(2)](n) frameworks on the aggregates, resulting in the formation of Au nanoparticles/[Cu-3(btc)(2)](n) nanocomposites. The present approach was confirmed to be applicable for other hybrids consisting of Au nanoparticles and tetragonal [Cu-2(ndc)(2)(dabco)](n) frameworks.